Formats

Federico II di Svevia, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Sicily, had a special affection for the hills around Monte Vulture. Here, in Basilicata, he had castles built that still stand today. And he loved the wines of the Vulture – those deep, mineral reds that came from the lava soils of the extinct volcano. The Terre degli Svevi estate, founded in 1998, honours his legacy with the name of its flagship wine: Re Manfredi – king Manfred, his son, the fearless warrior. 100% Aglianico, grown at 420 metres in Venosa, on volcanic soil rich in calcium, nitrogen and tuff – the mineral foundation on which the character of this wine is built. A continental climate with harsh winters, hot summers and pronounced temperature fluctuations.

A rare treasure from Le Cinciole: just 2,000 bottles of this exceptional rosé leave the small winery in Panzano each year. With their certified organic Rosato, Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini have created a unique wine that stands out clearly from comparable wines in the region – 100% Sangiovese, vinified using the traditional white wine method. The Sangiovese grapes are hand-harvested at perfect ripeness and undergo a short, twelve-hour maceration before being gently pressed. Fermentation takes place at a maximum of fifteen degrees in stainless steel tanks, where the wine also completes its ageing. Bottling takes place traditionally in the spring during the waning moon – a detail that reflects the Orsinis' deep connection to nature.

La Morra, calcareous sandy soils, north-eastern slopes – this is where the 20 to 40-year-old Dolcetto vines for Elio Altareclassic grow. The Barolo revolutionary, who shook up the Langhe with Burgundian vinification methods in the 1970s, remains true to his Dolcetto: a wine for every day, as the farmers have been drinking it with pasta for generations. Maceration takes just two to three days in rotary fermenters at a controlled temperature, after which the grapes mature for ten months in stainless steel tanks – puristic, without the influence of wood.

A Fiano with inner peace and clear origins: Montelapio comes from high altitude vineyards around Lapio. The volcanic, mineral-rich soils give the wine elegant grip and balance. Delicate golden yellow colour. Harmoniously balanced aromas on the nose: yellow apple, white flowers, a hint of rock sugar, salty herbal notes and delicate hazelnut. On the palate, it is fruity with a clear structure and lively acidity that creates a youthful tension. The mineral finish is gently lingering and ends with a feeling of persistence that lingers for a long time.

Zisola is the Tuscan dream of the Mazzei family in the south of Sicily. The winery's bestseller is made from 100% Nero d'Avola from traditional Alberello vines near Noto, where chalky soils and proximity to the sea balance the natural exuberance of this indigenous grape variety with freshness and elegance. The Marchesi Mazzei, one of Italy's most historic winegrowing families with over 600 years of tradition, have been continuing their Sicilian project since 2003. 24 hectares of vineyards surround the historic bagli of the 50-hectare tenuta with a view of the baroque UNESCO World Heritage Site of Noto. Hand-picked and fermented for 14-16 days at 26-28°C, the wine matures for 10 months in French oak barrels (33% new).

Barbaspinosa comes from the hills around Poggio la Mozza – characterised by ferruginous clay soils that give the Sangiovese backbone and depth. The wine is aged for twelve months, partly in barriques and partly in large wooden barrels. Ruby red in colour with a slightly lighter rim. The bouquet smells of black cherry, plum, Maremma herbs, some tobacco and a hint of leather. Powerful but well-balanced on the palate, with ripe fruit, grippy tannins and fine spice. The vintage gives fullness, but remains surprisingly fresh thanks to the cool nights. A Sangiovese full of character with a Tuscan soul – down-to-earth, honest and with a distinctive expression of the Maremma. SUPERIORE.DE

Nas-cëtta, also known as Anas-Cetta, is a rare, indigenous white wine variety from Piedmont that was almost forgotten. Originally native to the Novello region, it is characterised by its fine structure, aromatic complexity and good ageing potential. For Il Fiore, it is combined with 70% Chardonnay to harmonise fruit and texture. Maturation in stainless steel tanks preserves the purity of the fruit and the clear expression of its Piedmontese origins.

Ribolla Gialla with ambition: Rjgialla is Tunella's elegant interpretation of the indigenous grape variety that has been rooted in Friuli for centuries. The vines grow on slopes with lean marl soil, which gives the wine precision and freshness. Bright straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. The bouquet is fine and expressive: lemon zest, white peach, blossom honey, pear and a hint of herbal spice. Slender but full of character on the palate, with lively acidity, delicate fruit and a clear, slightly salty finish. A fresh, delicate white wine with a regional profile – ideal with light summer cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

The name says it all: "Due lame" – two terraces – refers to the extreme range in altitude of the vineyards, which stretch from 420 to 655 metres. These are the highest-altitude Sangiovese vineyards in the whole of Tuscany, perched on the mineral-rich terraces that gave the village of Lamole its name. The soils, composed of ochre-coloured "Macigno Toscano" interspersed with galestro and alberese, lend the wine its characteristic sharpness and elegance. The estate, situated in the heart of Chianti Classico, has been part of the Santa Margherita Group (Herita Wines) since 1993 and vinifies its wines in the historic cellars of a castle dating from 1350. The grapes undergo visual sorting, ferment in stainless steel with 7–10 days' contact with the skins, and mature on the lees until late winter. A brief ageing period in large oak barrels rounds off the wine. 

A red wine with character – irresistible in its depth and yet with supple elegance. Noras comes from 90% Cannonau (Grenache) and 10% Carignano and is harvested from old vines rooted in sandy-granitic soils deep in the Sulcis terroir. After late manual harvesting, the must ferments at a controlled 22-24 °C for 12 days in stainless steel tanks, accompanied by regular pumping over to optimise extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place early and spontaneously, followed by around six months of maturation in used French barriques. Before it is released for sale, Noras matures for a further six months in the bottle – a maturation and ageing process that gives it depth and elegance.

Verdeca is a grape variety that hardly anyone knows – and that is no coincidence. For centuries, it was used as the base material for vermouth, was rarely vinified as a single variety and was considered too unspectacular for its own bottle. Yet its history is an ancient one: Greek in origin, it probably arrived in Apulia with the first settlers and became native to the sandy limestone soils of Salento. Masseria Li Veli has given it a stage with the Askos project – and the wine critics have responded. Askos Verdeca is the only Apulian white wine ever to be honoured by Gambero Rosso with its Tre Bicchieri.

A fragrant charmer with depth: Valmasìa is made from Malvasia Istriana, which thrives on the characteristic Ponca soils of the Colli Orientali. The terroir lends the wine an invigorating freshness and delicate minerality. In the glass, it is a pale straw yellow with a greenish sheen. On the nose, floral notes of orange blossom, ripe pear and nutmeg, accompanied by a hint of herbal tea. On the palate, it is fragrant and lively, with a smooth texture, delicate spice and an elegant, dry finish. A versatile, characterful white wine with a Mediterranean soul – ideal with antipasti, fish or herb-infused risotto. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sogni al Campo" – dreams in the field. A name that reveals what drives this co-operative: 180 Piedmontese winegrowers who work together to cultivate around 300 hectares in the best vineyards in the region and make wine in the ultra-modern winery in Barolo. What unites them is the belief that co-operation does not have to mean compromise, but concentration on the essentials. This Langhe Nebbiolo shows how cleverly Piedmont handles its grape varieties: 85 per cent Nebbiolo provides structure and those typical aromas of cherry, violet and a hint of tar. But the 15 per cent Barbera is the secret – they bring juiciness and a lively acidity that makes the Nebbiolo more accessible in its youth without taking away its soul. After traditional fermentation, the wine matures for twelve months in barriques, which give it a subtle spiciness and finely polished tannins.

Documented since 1370, Lagrein epitomises authentic South Tyrol like no other grape variety. This autochthonous variety, related to Syrah and resulting from a natural cross with Teroldego, finds optimal conditions in the alluvial soils of Bolzano, Ora and Magreid. The natural cultivation of the selected partner farms respects the characteristic intensity of this Burgundy-coloured variety. Traditional mash fermentation at a controlled temperature in steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation and twelve months of ageing in large wooden barrels, results in a Lagrein with a classic character.

Renon (Ritten) is the high plateau to the east of Bolzano, where the town's inhabitants used to seek respite from the summer heat – and still do today. Whatever grows up here at 550 metres benefits from both the warmth of the steeply sloping porphyry rocks and the coolness of the high altitude. A combination that gives the Chardonnay what it cannot find in hot valley locations: aromatic depth and natural balance. Kleinstein is the farm that supplies these grapes, run by a young farmer from St. Justina who studied agricultural economics in Vienna, worked in environmental policy and then returned to his father's farm to convert it to organic farming. Terroir and biography in a single label. Gentle pressing, maturation on fine lees in stainless steel, with part of the alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation taking place in barriques – for texture without woody aromas.

Intense ruby red, complex bouquet with notes of black cherry, blueberry and plum, followed by coffee, liquorice and leather. Powerful and full-bodied on the palate, sweet in its tannic texture, infused with a lively freshness and with a beautiful fruit centre. Persistent on the palate with notes of liquorice and cocoa, giving the Rosso an elegant and full-bodied finish. SUPERIORE.DE

In 1984, Rita Tua and Virgilio Bisti bought a dilapidated farmstead near Suvereto. No wine background, no generations of tradition – just a conviction: that the Colline Metallifere terroir can do more than it seemed at the time. The metal-rich, ferruginous clays of these hills between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apuan Alps bear a fingerprint that no other growing region in Tuscany can replicate: mineral, salty, with a depth reminiscent of both earth and sea. Tierre is Tua Rita's 100 per cent Merlot expression of this terroir – more accessible than the legendary Redigaffi, but with the same soils, the same hands, the same attitude.

Valeria and Luca Orsini have been among the most uncompromising pioneers of organic viticulture in Panzano since the early 1990s. Whilst other estates in the region focused on concentration, velvety richness and new oak barrels in the 2000s, the Orsinis remained true to the cool, skeletal Alberese soil – an approach that is reflected in every one of their wines. The name Sossópra, the Tuscan dialect word for "upside down", says it all. At Le Cinciole, Sangiovese usually reigns supreme.

A Friulian wine with a subtle French accent: Tunella's Chardonnay combines the purity of the Colli Orientali terroir with hints of Burgundian elegance. The vines grow on Ponca soils on a gentle slope, which lend the wine precision and structure. In the glass, it is a pale golden-yellow with greenish highlights. On the nose, white flowers, yellow apple, a hint of toasted hazelnut and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, it is harmonious, with a creamy texture, fine acidity and subtle minerality. A well-balanced, charming Chardonnay with a clear expression of its origin and stylish depth. SUPERIORE.DE

A Pinot Grigio with substance and origin: the grapes for this classic white wine come from the chalky flysch soils of the Colli Orientali, where cooler nights and good aeration ensure aromatic clarity and freshness. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The aroma is typical of the variety and delicate: yellow apple, pear, white flowers and a hint of lemon zest. Dry, lively and straightforward on the palate, with fine fruit, subtle minerality and balanced acidity. An elegant representative of its grape variety, not focussing on superficial fruit, but on balance and drinking flow. SUPERIORE.DE

Le Ragnaies Troncone Rosso is a pure Sangiovese that interprets the fruit beautifully and in all its spiciness and red berry flavour. Notes of dried cherries and nutmeg in the glass, along with wild berries and redcurrants. The first sip is a warm potpourri of red fruits and a racy blend of piquant acidity, minerals and spices. The finish is long and grippy, but also delicious and fresh, with savoury berry and mineral notes and a slight tannic kick. On the finish, the pure fruit provides plenty of drinkability, freshness and savouriness. Very successful! SUPERIORE.DE